Groups Urge Shell To Cut Ties With ALEC

In a letter sent yesterday, 19 international investors called on Shell, one of the world's largest oil companies, to leave the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a lobbying group composed of state legislators and corporate representatives.

This is the latest in a series of calls for Shell to end its ALEC membership, largely due to ALEC’s promotion of climate science denial. In May, 99% of Shell’s shareholders approved a resolution forcing Shell to review and manage its exposure to climate change risk.

Last year, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt accused ALEC of “literally lying” about climate change and severed Google’s ties with ALEC. In April, after dozens of corporations fled ALEC in part due to climate issues, ALEC issued legal threats to organizations, including Common Cause and the League of Conservation Voters, for calling it a “climate denier.”

"The CEO of Shell claims the company doesn't 'align' with groups that reject the science on climate change. The only question now is when will Shell stay true to its words and leave ALEC for good."Peter Frumhoff, Director of Science and Policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists

"Shell should listen to its investors and follow the lead of over 100 other companies by cutting ties with ALEC, which misleads taxpayers and citizens about its secretive operations, corporate lobbying, and climate science position.Arn Pearson, Vice President of Litigation, Common Cause

"People are telling Shell that actions speak louder than words. Shell might say the right things publicly on climate change, but that is meaningless while it plans to drill for oil in the arctic and funds climate denial group ALEC. This has to stop.Nick Surgey, Research Director, Center for Media and Democracy